| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Ruling Passion by Henry van Dyke: when they carried him back to the boat on a fish-barrow many
flattering words were spoken about Pichou. He was not insensible to
them. But these tributes to his prowess were not what he really
wanted. His secret desire was for tokens of affection. His
position was honourable, but it was intolerably lonely and full of
trouble. He sought peace and he found fights.
While he meditated dimly on these things, patiently trying to get
the ashes of Dan Scott's pipe out of his nose, his heart was cast
down and his spirit was disquieted within him. Was ever a decent
dog so mishandled before? Kicked for nothing by a fat stranger, and
then beaten by his own master!
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: spite of the fact that he believed he had robbed her of all her powers;
so he performed an enchantment that quickly disposed of her and placed
her out of his sight and hearing. After that, being occupied with other
things, he soon forgot her.
But now, when he looked into the Magic Picture and read the Great Book
of Records, the Shoemaker learned that his wickedness was not to go
unchallenged. Two important expeditions had set out to find him and
force him to give up his stolen property. One was the party headed by
the Wizard and Dorothy, while the other consisted of Cayke and the
Frogman. Others were also searching, but not in the right places.
These two groups, however, were headed straight for the wicker castle,
The Lost Princess of Oz |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: have and believe the Word of God, and do and submit to His will, and
are supported by His gifts and blessings is nevertheless not without
sin. For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the
world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience,
anger, revenge, etc. Besides, we have Satan at our back, who sets upon
us on every side, and fights (as we have heard) against all the
foregoing petitions, so that it is not possible always to stand firm in
such a persistent conflict.
Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and to pray:
Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses. Not as though He did not
forgive sin without and even before our prayer (for He has given us the
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